Experience with Blattwerk horsehide (Simmons Bilt)?

[Thuggee]

On a side note I've recently taken possession of a SB Roadster made from their Italian Modena veg tan black Horse it's a great jacket fits me well what really impressed me was the leather I've been on the look out for something similar leather wise to what's used in my ELMC horsehide G1 and this is definitely it, comparable to the Aero Vicenza as well I would say ( I have handled all 3 now in person)


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[Graemsay]

I met Debs and Steve from Simmons Bilt at the weekend.

Debs told me that Will is no longer with the business, and alleged that he'd caused some serious problems with it.

Basically, a number of people had joined what was then Alexander Leathers based on promises made. Things went south, the company went bust, and Steve bought it out. He felt necessary to rebrand as Simmons Bilt in order to make a clean break with the past.

Criticising Simmons Bilt because of their previous management strikes me as misguided. I think that there's a huge amount of misplaced hostility to the company around here.

 

[Asaha]

Hello,

I've recently received several leather swatches from Simmons Bilt including their new Blattwerk horsehide, Shinki horsehide, etc. To be honest with you the Blattwerk "Mahagonay" looks beautiful and the leather is so soft and supply and has a kind of vintage look. It is not comparable with any other leather jackets I own (Horween FQHH, Aero jerky HH, Shinki from RMC, Lost Worlds HH, Eastman HH, Aero battered tan HH, etc.). According to their website the thickness is ranging from 1.2-1.4mm, however it feels like a mid-weight leather. As I cannot find any threads or experience on Blattwerk HH from SB in the internet, I wonder if any of you own a jacket made of SB Blattwerk HH and how is your experience with it in terms of durability, patina development, etc. I'm really tempted to purchase one but I'm undecisive without knowing how the quality is.

I'm looking forward to your feedback - thanks!!
Kind regards,
Robbie

Ahh, I too was taken away by that leather, but no-one had any jacket of that hide to guide how that going to develop over time. If you go to their Instagram page, there's one pic of Steve (MD) wearing a jacket made of that hide and same color if that helps. Good luck.

 

[Sloan1874]

I met Debs and Steve from Simmons Bilt at the weekend.

Debs told me that Will is no longer with the business, and alleged that he'd caused some serious problems with it.

Basically, a number of people had joined what was then Alexander Leathers based on promises made. Things went south, the company went bust, and Steve bought it out. He felt necessary to rebrand as Simmons Bilt in order to make a clean break with the past.

Criticising Simmons Bilt because of their previous management strikes me as misguided. I think that there's a huge amount of misplaced hostility to the company around here.

You've got to be kidding, Graemsey. If SB was in any way serious about severing it's connections with it's past, it would abandon use of all the patterns that originate from Aero's stock - that is to say, they would need to drop close to 40 designs. That tells you everything you need to know about the company and how it's built itself on the talent and hard work of others.
Oh and as far as I'm aware, Will's the only 'senior' staffer not involved in the company nowadays:
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC432268/officers

 

[Big J]

@Sloan, on the link you give, Toohey is still listed. Is this the same guy that Will Lauder was letting into the Aero factory out of hours, so that he could use Aero materials, patterns, and machines to make jackets which he sold at a profit, leaving Aero out of pocket in costs, because Will Lauder wanted to let him 'keep his hand in' (because Will knew he needed to if they were going to start Alexander Leathers together)?
It's THAT guy, right?

They all sound like a crooked bunch of scumbags you couldn't trust with your money (or your credit card details) to me.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I have to agree with @Sloan1874 and @Big J here.

They want it to look like they have completely broken with the past when in reality, they are still using stolen designs and are still profiting off of everything that Will did and still have other guilty parties in the company. Changing the name to seem like a different company while still employing people and using stolen items is even more disingenuous.

People giving them money when they know this are the misguided ones.

 

[ButteMT61]

My misplaced hostility is still intact. I don't carry a lot of it, but I do in this regard.

 

[Fanch]

These guys seem to be the the Rodney Dangerfield of the Lounge.

 

[ButteMT61]

These guys seem to be the the Rodney Dangerfield of the Lounge.

Not sure who's worse, them or AF - I even forget the name of the company now LOL!

 

[Pio]

The unbelievable story of Simmons Built. I hope no one ever forgets.

 

[Downunder G Man]

Resurrecting this old thread. I have had very recent dealings with Simmons Bilt and have only good things to say about them. I have 2 of their jackets , both in black goat. A J100 café racer and a Nebraska. Go your own way I say !

 

[sweetfights]

The SB cafe racer is the only cafe racer that fits me stock to date. Great looking.
Although I still have to try a proper size 42 cafe racer from Aero. My previous Aero's racers were 40- too tight.

 

[Downunder G Man]

These are both stock off the rack ( for Proconsul LA ) and fit me well. Roll on our "Aussie winter" I say !

44" chest, 36 waist. Stock off the rack Schott in 44" fit me well also. I may be "lucky", I don't need "bespoke" !

 

[zebedee]

The SB cafe racer is the only cafe racer that fits me stock to date. Great looking.
Although I still have to try a proper size 42 cafe racer from Aero. My previous Aero's racers were 40- too tight.

I had the same thing- a size 40 was too constricting. The 42 was much roomier and was also longer without being either too loose or lengthy. I did get the Aero 40 to fit briefly when I endured mild starvation.

 

[Downunder G Man]

I had the same thing- a size 40 was too constricting. The 42 was much roomier and was also longer without being either too loose or lengthy. I did get the Aero 40 to fit briefly when I endured mild starvation.

Mild starvation ? Not in this life haha...( tho' I could do with losing the couple of extra Christmas kilos ! )

 

[zebedee]

Mild starvation ? Not in this life haha...( tho' I could do with losing the couple of extra Christmas kilos ! )

Even then it was fairly tight. . The size 42 was absolutely right- back length is 26.5 inches, which was perfect.

 

[Berto]

Hello,

I've recently received several leather swatches from Simmons Bilt including their new Blattwerk horsehide, Shinki horsehide, etc. To be honest with you the Blattwerk "Mahagonay" looks beautiful and the leather is so soft and supply and has a kind of vintage look. It is not comparable with any other leather jackets I own (Horween FQHH, Aero jerky HH, Shinki from RMC, Lost Worlds HH, Eastman HH, Aero battered tan HH, etc.). According to their website the thickness is ranging from 1.2-1.4mm, however it feels like a mid-weight leather. As I cannot find any threads or experience on Blattwerk HH from SB in the internet, I wonder if any of you own a jacket made of SB Blattwerk HH and how is your experience with it in terms of durability, patina development, etc. I'm really tempted to purchase one but I'm undecisive without knowing how the quality is.

I'm looking forward to your feedback - thanks!!
Kind regards,
Robbie

Robbie, I know a guy who has ordered a leather jacket made in Blattwerk Mahogany.

I will try lo upload some pics of it.

 

[MoFo]

I don't think anyone here owns a jacket made from that hide; actually I don't think they have made many of them at all as they charge quite a lot for it and it's an unknown leather. Most of their customers probably rather take the safe route with Horween leather at less cost.

I am a happy Blattwerk Mahogany customer. It's GREAT!

 

[Berto]

I am a happy Blattwerk Mahogany customer. It's GREAT!

Can you kindly upload some pics?

 

[MoFo]

Can you kindly upload some pics?

I did...

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/show-your-graining.101515/page-9#post-2730673